Rangpur region is likely to get bumper Aus rice production this season where farmers have exceeded their fixed farming target by over 55 per cent this season.
Proper implementation of the government’s various pragmatic steps, including distribution of incentives, inspired the farmers in enhancing Aus rice cultivation, officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said.
The government has fixed a target of bringing 26,159 heaters of land under the Aus rice cultivation to produce 68,969 tonnes of clean Aus rice for Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts of the region this season, reports BSS.
“The enthusiastic farmers have cultivated Aus rice on 40,618 hectares of land exceeding the fixed farming target by 14,459 hectares or 55.27 per cent this time,” DAE official said.
The official said the government distributed special incentives to 8,000 farmers who got 5 kg Aus rice seed, 20 kg urea, 10 kg DAP and 10 kg MoP and Tk 500 for irrigating Aus rice field on one bigha of land each this time.
“Besides, 300 beneficiary farmers got 5 kg Nerico Aus rice seed, 20 kg urea, 10 kg DAP and 10 kg MoP fertilisers, Tk 500 for irrigating Aus rice field and Tk 500 for weed control on one bigha land each,” said the official.
DAE Deputy Director Md Moniruzzaman said distribution of special incentives, motivational activities and technical assistance inspired the farmers in increasing cultivation of less irrigation water consuming Aus rice crop.
The farmers have already harvested early varieties of Aus rice on 12,541 hectares (30.87 per cent of the cultivated land area) producing 38,000 tonnes of clean Aus rice with an average yield rate of 3.03 tonnes per hectare.
“Currently, Aus rice cultivated on 12.20 per cent of the total cultivated land area is at the tillering stage, 10.70 per cent at panicle initiation stage, 4.47 per cent at booting stage, 3.45 per cent at flowering stage, 5.24 per cent at milking stage, 16.48 per cent at dough stage and 16.58 per cent at the ripening stage,” he said.
The DAE official also said the cultivation of short duration Aus rice during the off-season between Boro harvest and T-Aman seedling transplantation is regaining popularity to increase rice production reducing pressure on underground water for ensuring the country’s food security